Index tab



May 27, 1924.

F. A. cusHlNG INDEX TA B Filed Sept. 29, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

May 27, 1924. 1,495,401

F. A. cusHlNG INDEX TAB- AFiled Sept. 29, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 27, 1924.

INDEX TAB.

Application filed september 29, 192s. serial No. 665,725.

TQ all'wlwm it may concern/f vBe it known that I, FRANK A. CUSHING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Index Tab, of which the following is a specification.

The -present invention relates to improvements in index tabs and its particular object is to provide a 'convenient means for uniting a large plurality of indexy tabs in column formation in such a manner that any one of the tabs may be removed from its place at any time without disturbing its respective column andthe arrangement of the names thereon while allowing the two neighboring tabs to be secured to one another and to thus close the gap made by the withdrawn tab. My method for connecting tabs in this manner is particularly useful for large organizations in which the membership changes frequently and my arrangement allows the tab having the lname of a withdrawing member thereon to be readily removed from the column while at the same time a tab containing the name of a new member may be inserted `in its alphabetical place without disturbing the column arrangement as a whole. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.'

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a front view of a column of tabs arranged according to my invention; Figure 2, a rear view of the said column ;v Figure 3, a blank out of which each individual tab is made; Figure 4, a similar blank in a more progressed stage; F'igure-5, a blank of a lookin member used at the lower end of each co umn; Figure 6, a singletab bent into the form in which it is ,actuallyT used for interlocking relation with the adjacent. tabs; Figure 7, a detail view showing two tabs in interlocked relation; Figure A8, a side view of a number of tabs held in interlocking relation and -Figure 9, a vrear view explaining the manner of assembling a plurality of tabs. While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the. claims hereto attached i withoutl departing from the spirit of the invention.

-Each individual index -tab (1) -is provided with ymeans for engaging and interlocking pattern of a single index tab is shown in l Figures 3 and 4 and comprises a piece of paper or other suitable material cut as shown in Figure 3 to produce two rectangular sections (2) and (3) joined in such a manner that a small edge of the rectangle is connected with the central portion of a long edge of the rectangle The rectangle (2) is divided into two portions along a centralline (4), the upper portion (5) forming the tab proper, while the lower portion (6) forms a flap adapted to be folded over the strip (5). Substantially triangular portions (7) are cut out of the ends of the rectangle (2), whereby the strip (5) as well as the flap (6) is provided with wings (8) and (9) adapted to be folded over the said strip or flap for purposes described hereinafter.

The rectangle (3) has a central section (11) partly separated from the same and in folded along the central line (14), while the rectangle (3) is marked to be folded along the line (16), which latter is somewhat lower than the lineV (14) as viewed in lFigure 3. A second folding line (17) is marked Vof another index tab.

For engagement with adjoining index n tabs, the pattern shown in Figure 3 is folded in the manner illustrated in `Figure 6, that is, as follows.V Assuming in Figure 4 that the strip (5) marked BC is to be the front of the index tab, the two wings (8) are folded over the edges of the strip (5) to lie on the rear of the same, whereupon the flap 6) is kbent over the lower edge of the strip l (5) to cover .its rear and the two wings (8).

The two members (5) and (6), with the f wings (9) of the member (6) still in their original position, are folded over the joming line (21) between the two rectangles,

The tongue (11) of the rectangle (3) vis then j folded along the edge (12), whereupon the rectangle itself is bent downwardly over the edge (16), whereby two downwardly extending legs (22) shown in Figure 6 are formed. The two wings (9) of the flap (6) are then turned over to cover the legs (22), binding the strip (5) and the flap (6) to the legs, provided of course the wings themselves are held in place by some other agency described hereinafter.

Assume now that a plurality of patterns are made up in the manner shown in Figure 6, the'assembling of the same is proceeded with as follows. For the lowermost tab, it may be assumed that the wings (9) are held in place by a locking means to be described hereinafter so that the two legs are firmly held against the strip (5). It will be noticed that each leg, due to its peculiar formation, forms pockets (23), which latter are adapted to receive the legs of the next higher tab in such a manner that the strip (5) of the next higher member assumes a position immediately above the strip (5) of the first member as shown in Figure 1. 1While the legs of the second member rest in the pockets of the first member, the tongue (11) of the second member and the fla-p (18) of the same are disposed in the front of the tongue and flap of the first member. It will be realized that in this position the upper portion of the rectangle (3) marked (24) in Fignre 6 and the lo-wer portion of the tab (11) overlie the strip (5) and the flap (6) so that, when the two wings (9) of the second tab are folded over the portion (24) of the irst tab and are held in place by a suitable means, they will bind the strip (5) of the second tab to the portion (24) of the first tab. If now the legs of a third tab are introduced into the pockets of the second tab and the wings (9) of the third tab folded over the portion (24) of the second tab, the tongue (11) of the first tab may be slipped through the slot (19) in the flap (18) of the second tab, whereupon the latter may be folded downwardly to cover the two wings (9) of the third tab, and the end of the tongue may be slipped under the upper extremity of the first tab, which insures a firm connection between the three tabs as illustrated in Figure 9.

It should be realized that at least three different tabs are necessary to form a unit, the legs of the second tab resting 1n the pockets of the first tab, the wings (9) of the second tab binding the portion (24) of the first tab to the strip (5) of the second tab, the flap (19) of the first tab covering the wings (9) of the second tab, a similar situation being produced between a third and the second tab, and the tongue (11) of the first tab engaging with the flap (18) of the second tab for holding the same upon the wings (9) of the third tab.

To remove a single tab from'the column, the procedure is yas follows. If, in Figure 2, the tab marked (26) is to be removed, the tongues (27) and (28) are first pulledout of engagement with the upper extremities of the adjacent tabs. The two flaps (18) engaged by the said tongues may then be lifted by the insertion of a pencil or the like and freed from their engagement with the two tongues (27) and (28). The wings (9) covered by the flap (18) of the lower tab may then be spread or unfolded, which allows the legs of the tab (26) to be pulled out of the pockets of the next lower tab so that the tab (26) may be separated, together with the column of tabs above it, from the column of tabs below it. Now the wings (9) of the adjoining upper tab may be spread and the tongue (29) of the tab (26) disengaged from the flap (18) of the next higher member, which allows the member (26) to be withdrawn from the upper column. Thereafter the legs of the now lowermost tab of the upper column may be inserted in the pocket of the uppermost tab of the lower column and the wings (8) used for binding the portion (24) of each lower tab to the strip (5) of each upper tab, while the engagement of the respective tongues with the iaps (18) holds the wings in place and reunites the two columns previously separated into one single column. By the same manner of proceeding a new tab may be inserted at any place desired.

It will be remembered that in the construction shown and disclosed thus far there is nothing to hold the two wings (9) of the lowermost member in place, nor is any means .provided for holding the flap (18) of the lower member overlying the wings of the second member in its place. To prevent these members from working loose, l introduce the locking element illustrated in Figure 5. It will be noted that the latter includes a strip (31) of the same size as `the strip (5) of each individual tab, which latter strip has two side wings (32) extending therefrom and a short iap (33) terminating in a tongue (34)'. The use of this member may be best explained .in connection with Figure 9. The strip (31) is placed on top of the two wings of the lowermost member and the wings are folded into pockets formed between the strip (5) and the flap (6) of each tab. ``When in this position, the flap of the locking member extends upwardly and the tongue (34) may be passed through the slot in the lill@ lowermost liap (18) and folded down-- folded extends both ways beyond the folded flap (6) and the folded rectangular section (3) which allows the projecting edges of the strip (5) to be placed on guides (not shown in the drawing) whereby a Hat surface is secured for the whole column.

I claim:

1. Means for interlocking three index tabs in column formation comprising legs extending from the upper tab into pockets in the second tab, side wings on the upper tab adapted toy lie on an upward extension of the second tab and a tongue extending from the third tab overlying the side wings for interlocking engagement with a flap on the second tab.

2. Means for interlocking three index tabs in column formation comprising legs extending from the tab into pocket-s in the second tab with a portion of the second tab overlying the rst tab, side wings on the upper tab adapted to lie on the said portion of the second tab, a flap on the second tab adapted to be folded downwardly so as to cover the side wings of the first tab and a tongue extending from the third tab adapted to engage with the flap of the second tab for interlocking relation.

3. Blank for an index tab of the character described comprising a strip adapted to have a symbol printed thereon, a flap extending downwardly therefrom having wings on opposite ends adapted to be folded over the flap, and a large section extend ing upwardly from the strip having a central portion partly separated to form a. tongue hinged to the section near the strip.

4. Means for interlocking three index tabs in column formation comprising legs extending from the upper tab into pockets in the second tab, side wings on the upper tab adapted to lie on an upward extension of the second tab, a tongue extending from the third tab overlying the said wings for interlocking engagement with a flap on the second tab and means for holding the third tab in place.

5. Means for interlocking three index tabs in column formation comprising legs extending from the upper tab into pockets inthe second tab, side wings on the upper tab adapted to lie on an upward extension of the second tab, a tongue extending from the third tab overlying the said wings for interlocking engagement with a flap on the second tab and means for holding the third tab in pl-ace comprising a strip adapted to be placed on the back of the tab having side wings adapted to be engaged with pockets formed on the thi-rd tabl land a tongue extending from said strip adapted to be engaged with an upper Hap on the third tab.

FRANK A. CUSHING. 

